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Fees and funding

UK & EU fee

Overseas fee

General funding notes

Specific funding notes

Several major international companies have established a Trust Fund with the department. This fund provides five bursaries, each worth at least £1,500, which are open to all applicants of this programme.

Key Facts

Research Assessment Exercise

Bioprocessing of New Medicines (Science and Engineering) BSc

UCAS Code: B190

There is a growing need for graduates with a grounding in biological sciences who are able to understand the translational new technologies required for new medicine commercialisation. This BSc focuses on the early stage development of new medicines, such as stem cell, new vaccines and potential new therapies related to healthcare.

Entry requirements

A Levels

Grades

A*AA-AAA

Subjects

Biology required.

AS Levels

For UK-based students a pass in a further subject at AS level or equivalent is required.

GCSEs

English Language and Mathematics at grade C. For UK-based students, a grade C or equivalent in a foreign language (other than Ancient Greek, Biblical Hebrew or Latin) is required. UCL provides opportunities to meet the foreign language requirement following enrolment, further details at: www.ucl.ac.uk/ug-reqs

IB Diploma

Points

38-39

Subjects

A total of 18-19 points in three higher level subjects including Biology, with no score below 5.

Other qualifications

For entry requirements with other UK qualifications accepted by UCL, choose your qualification from the list below:

Selected entry requirements will appear here

International applicants

International qualifications

In addition to A level and International Baccalaureate, UCL considers a wide range of international qualifications for entry to its undergraduate degree programmes.

Select country above, equivalent grades appear here.

Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates

UCL offers intensive one-year foundation courses to prepare international students for a variety of degree programmes at UCL.

The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPCs) are for international students of high academic potential who are aiming to gain access to undergraduate degree programmes at UCL and other top UK universities.

English language requirements

If your education has not been conducted in the English language, you will be expected to demonstrate evidence of an adequate level of English proficiency. Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page. A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education.

Degree benefits

This flexible programme enables you to choose different options from an approved list, thereby tailoring your degree towards the engineering, biological or business aspects of new medicine development.

The department has the most modern and comprehensive biochemical engineering facilities of any university in the world. Constructed at a cost of £30 million, they attract leading industrial competitors.

Our teaching is designed to help you both to work at a detailed analytical level, and to see the bigger picture in terms of addressing environmental and ethical issues.

We have been pioneers in providing our undergraduates with training to help them understand the business environment in which life science industries operate, thus better preparing you for your future career.

In the first year, you will study the fundamentals of biochemistry and cell biology required to understand the technologies used in the early stages of new medicine development. Case studies will look at the challenges of creating new medicines, disease states and the ethical considerations of working in the biopharmaceutical industry.

The second year examines the intricate signalling structures within the human body and the immune memory that new vaccines seek to stimulate. In addition, you will be required to consider the commercialisation of new medicines and will develop your knowledge of intellectual property and how to manage it in a global market.

The research project is a core component of the third year, along with courses in business planning and the bioprocessing of new medicines. At least one module option is offered every year, enabling you to tailor your degree towards the business side of the new medicines industry or the bio-molecular side.

Your learning

You will be taught using a combination of lectures, case studies, team-based projects and experiments. Leading industrialists and researchers regularly visit the department to provide guest lectures. Case studies are conducted in small teams, and your personal and departmental tutors are available to offer individual support.

Assessment

Degree structure

In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual courses, normally valued at 0.5 or 1.0 credits, adding up to a total of 4.0 credits for the year. Courses are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional courses varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 1.0 credit is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

Year One

Compulsory courses

New Medicines and SocietyBioprocess EngineeringBiochemistry for EngineersPrinciples and Practice of Experimental BiochemistryIntroductory Cell and Molecular Biology

Optional courses

You will select 0.5 credits from a range of options.

Year Two

Compulsory courses

Evaluation and Planning of Business Opportunities in Bioprocessing and Life SciencesCell Production and GrowthBioprocess Recovery and PurificationNew Medicines for the 21st CenturyMicrobial Genetics and Mole Biology

Optional courses

You will select 0.5 credits from a range of options.

Final Year

Compulsory courses

Business PlanningResearch ProjectBioprocessing of New MedicinesMolecular Biology for Biochemical Engineering

Optional courses

Opportunities

The core science, engineering, business and leadership skills that you acquire on the programme will provide you with excellent and diverse career prospects. In addition to your core subject knowledge, the programme will provide you with skills such as innovative thinking, team working and computing.

The excitement of advances towards new medicines and greener sustainable processes is creating an ever-growing need for biochemical engineering graduates to work in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, biofuels, chemical, environment and food industries.

You may be based in a university, or work in company research and development activity involved in the design of facilities and issues of creating safe materials. The programme teaches skills such as systematic thinking and precise calculation, which leads some graduates to enter the financial sector and particularly those companies which invest in healthcare.

Destinations

The first cohort of students admitted to the Bioprocessing of New Medicines (Science and Engineering) BSc programme are due to graduate after 2015. Therefore, no information about career destinations for students on this programme is currently available.

Find out more about London graduates' careers by visiting the Careers Group (University of London) website:

Your application

In addition to academic requirements, we will also use your application to assess your motivation for studying bioprocessing. We will be seeking applicants committed to studying at the highest level, and who are eager, and able, to rise to the challenges presented both by the programme and by a career in the discipline.

How to apply

Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.

Selection

If we are considering making you an offer, and you live in the UK, you will be invited to an applicant open day. Your visit provides an excellent opportunity to examine the departmental facilities before making a final decision.

If you live outside the UK, or travel distance is a problem, we will arrange for a telephone or online (VoIP) chat to assist with any questions you may have.

We are happy to consider your application if you wish to defer entry and take a gap year before taking up your place on the programme, especially if you have constructive plans for your time. The Year in Industry scheme provides suitably qualified students with work placements, allowing them to gain relevant work experience whilst earning money.